Download

Description/Abstract

Induction of antigen-specific tolerance to transplantation antigens is desirable to control host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host reactions. Following molecular identification of a set of minor histocompatibility (H) antigens, we have used selected HY peptide epitopes for this purpose. Intranasal administration of individual major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-restricted HY peptides induces indefinite survival of syngeneic male skin grafts and allows engraftment of male bone marrow.

Consistent with this, tolerance induction by HY peptide is abrogated by coadministration of lipopolysaccharide. IL-10 does not appear to be critically involved because tolerance is inducible in IL-10-deficient mice. Adoptive transfer of tolerance into naive neonatal recipients by splenocytes from long-term tolerant donors provides evidence for involvement of regulatory cells.